This Management Summary and consolidation report of the LCA study by the University of Pretoria compares the electricity use of 6 different types of walling common in South Africa. The measurements were based on the electricity used in heating and cooling a home or office in order to maintain reasonable “thermal comfort” which is between 19 and 25˚C.

The low density walling systems (timber and steel frame) show a trend towards higher annual energy use, while the three high density walling systems (clay brick) consistently result in lower annual energy use.

There is a 30% to 70% energy saving if clay brick is used, relative to other typical building materials. In terms of climate change impact, this is equivalent to taking between 3 and 7 passenger cars off the road for a month for every year the building is in use. Even higher savings are evident in the hotter regions of South Africa and in non-residential buildings, where electricity use for air conditioning is much higher.

The CBA expands knowledge and support for clay brick masonry and maintains building standards in the use of clay bricks and pavers in construction. We educate the clay brick industry about energy efficient, environmentally-sustainable manufacturing technologies.